The Marshall Islands-flagged product tanker Velos Sapphire was struck by two unidentified projectiles approximately 50 nautical miles north of Madinat ash Shamal, Qatar, on 4 November 2026. The IMO confirmed the vessel sustained damage and one seafarer is missing, with no pollution reported. The operator described an explosion believed caused by an unidentified missile striking the aft port side. The vessel was not on Iran's Hormuz blacklist, and the incident occurred outside the strait itself, indicating the threat perimeter has widened.
Tanker Velos Sapphire Struck by Suspected Missile North of Qatar, One Seafarer Missing
The Marshall Islands-flagged product tanker Velos Sapphire was struck by two unidentified projectiles approximately 50 nautical miles north of Madinat ash Shamal, Qatar, on 4 November 2026. The IMO confirmed the vessel sustained damage and one seafarer is missing, with no pollution reported. The operator described an explosion believed caused by an unidentified missile striking the aft port side. The vessel was not on Iran's Hormuz blacklist, and the incident occurred outside the strait itself, indicating the threat perimeter has widened.
